Samyang 14 and 85mm

[Pistnbroke]

Not been here long but have not seen these lenses mentioned.
Originally I used the Sigma 10-20mm on a D7000 for what I call wedding landscapes but was never happy with the quality. Then moved to D800 with a sigma 17-35mm  and that was a big improvement. But at only £214 ($280)  I just had to try the 14mm f2.8.You can read all the reviews but just ignore any negative comments .DXO says this lens uses 27 out of the D810's 36 MP so its sharp.  Just set at F5.6 ( in camera ) put the focus on 10ft and tape it up   and away you go .No need to focus the DOF is so great. Prefer a 14-28 zoom ?? Forget it just crop .You can sell a 100% crop print from this baby.

A friend told me of the 85mm F1.4  at only  £185  ($240) Not Grey , normally £249  ...Again a fantastic optic for portraits of individuals at f 2 or couples needing more DOF at F4.  The Bokeh is very good  and as both lenses have the chip you can use all modes.

[Jan Anne]

Third topic on the forum is about the Samyang 14/2.8
http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php/topic,3.0.html

A favourite lens of mine since 2012 and only recently replaced by a Voigtlander 15/4.5E.

Also debated here recently in the Irix 15 topic, a close sibling from the same factory
http://nikongear.net/revival/index.php/topic,4298.0.html

Not a big fan of the longer models, merely because I prefer old skool lenses like the Nikkor 50/1.2 and Canon FD 85/1.2.

[Bjørn Rørslett]

I have briefly used both lenses (14, 85).

If you are lucky and get a good sample, it works very well. However, it is a kind of lottery as Q.C. never was the strong side of the company which makes these (or re-branded) lenses. Opening up the lens (I did with the 85) discloses why the lens is cheaper than the native Nikkors.

Thus, if you take a chance or it's easy to return a lens, and you are careful about the lens, these can be economic alternatives. Do keep the caveats in mind, though. There is no free lunch.

[Hugh_3170]

I have a Sigma 10-20mm DC lens which was hand picked from  a group of ten by a salesman that I was friendly with who was a very good photographer and technician and it is a cracker.  Cost me a very nice bottle of red, but it was worth it.  Interestingly he reckoned that the top three were excellent and the last four were dogs and these four were promptly sent back to the distributor.

Getting back to the Samyangs, and other off brand lenses, you are taking your chances.  Should you buy a top shelf grade of such lenses such as a Tamron SP or a Sigma EX, then you will probably fare OK, but with the bottom shelf grades all I can say is good luck.


I suspect that the

Not been here long but have not seen these lenses mentioned.
Originally I used the Sigma 10-20mm on a D7000 for what I call wedding landscapes but was never happy with the quality. Then moved to D800 with a sigma 17-35mm  and that was a big improvement. But at only £214 ($280)  I just had to try the 14mm f2.8.You can read all the reviews but just ignore any negative comments .DXO says this lens uses 27 out of the D810's 36 MP so its sharp.  Just set at F5.6 ( in camera ) put the focus on 10ft and tape it up   and away you go .No need to focus the DOF is so great. Prefer a 14-28 zoom ?? Forget it just crop .You can sell a 100% crop print from this baby.

A friend told me of the 85mm F1.4  at only  £185  ($240) Not Grey , normally £249  ...Again a fantastic optic for portraits of individuals at f 2 or couples needing more DOF at F4.  The Bokeh is very good  and as both lenses have the chip you can use all modes.

[simato73]

I used a Samyang 14/2.8 on a D700 and was very happy with it.
It was the later "edition" with newer coatings and a CPU.
The D700 is gone but I still have several Nikkor MF lenses that I use on a Fuji X-T1 with an adapter, and the Samyang 14m, which I don't use at all and am considering parting with it - either selling it or giving it to my nephew.
If you are interested in it please send a PM, I live in the UK.

I also had the Samyang 85/1.4 and was also happy with that one, but have sold it when I given up the D700.

[Akira]

I used Samyang 7.5mm fisheye on a m4/3 camera.  My sample was amazing, and I was lucky to have a chance to make sure that it was a good sample.  Maybe I used it for about two years or so, and found any optical flaw.  The only problem I had was that the distant scale on the focus ring is totally unreliable, and zone focusing is practically impossible, which was really annoying for a fisheye (or any superwides).

[Pistnbroke]

Like I said in the OP   "just ignore any negative comments"  I have had 3 Samyang lenses and no problems.Briliant lenses for any money 

[Peter Connan]

How good is the 85mm wide open?

[Harald]

Hi,

it is Sharp, but not supersharp. Some CAs, easy to correct in pp. Bokeh is very good in my Eyes.

Harald

[BruceSD]

I have briefly used both lenses (14, 85).

If you are lucky and get a good sample, it works very well. However, it is a kind of lottery as Q.C. never was the strong side of the company which makes these (or re-branded) lenses. Opening up the lens (I did with the 85) discloses why the lens is cheaper than the native Nikkors.

Thus, if you take a chance or it's easy to return a lens, and you are careful about the lens, these can be economic alternatives. Do keep the caveats in mind, though. There is no free lunch.

I agree.   

I owned a Samyang 85mm and took it apart when installing a new mount on it.  I saw far too many, flimsy, stamped metal parts.   Very cheaply made.   I will never buy another Samyang lens.

I suppose a Samyang would be OK if you use it only occasionally under non-rugged conditions.   But if you want a long term lens that's to be used in rugged conditions, don't even think about buying a Samyang.

[Olivier]

Well, for the price, you can easily get a new one when the first has worn out or broken.
My Samyang 12mm f/2 doesn't look or feel cheap at all. And I am not afraid of submitting it to rough conditions.
As always in my case, the material should not be considered as the limiting factor.

[Pistnbroke]

Well Oliver I think you shot yourself in the foot ...you must have been impressed enough to go to the expense of sourcing a new mount and fitting it .
Most of us don't use our lenses in the Syrian war zone so I thank Samyang for using cheap pressed parts so I can have a lens to love.

[Olivier]

Not sure I get your point.
I use the lens with its native mount on my Fuji X-T1, no need for a complex operation!

[Erik Lund]

Well Oliver I think you shot yourself in the foot ...you must have been impressed enough to go to the expense of sourcing a new mount and fitting it .
Most of us don't use our lenses in the Syrian war zone so I thank Samyang for using cheap pressed parts so I can have a lens to love.

Moderation comment: Please avoid making personal remarks or your posts will be removed.
Also, I believe you where referring to the post made by Bruce re the new mount, not Oliver,,, Doesn't makes it better though,,,

[BruceSD]

Well Oliver I think you shot yourself in the foot ...you must have been impressed enough to go to the expense of sourcing a new mount and fitting it .
Most of us don't use our lenses in the Syrian war zone so I thank Samyang for using cheap pressed parts so I can have a lens to love.

Please stop making frivilous assumptions about people that you do not even know!!!

The 85mm Samyang lens I modified cost me nothing.  The new mount I installed was laying around in my parts bin.   I don't shoot war zones.   

I much prefer to spend my money on equipment that will last generations, and Samyang lenses do not pass that bar.